Notebook vendors are requesting keyboard suppliers start preparing for possible labor shortages following the 2011 Lunar New Year holidays.

Some notebook keyboard suppliers faced labor shortages after the National Day holidays in October in China, but the shortages were solved in November.

Taiwan-based notebook keyboard maker Darfon Electronics explained that it is normal for workers to not return to work after the holidays, and suppliers did not increase their workforce when demand dropped in July-August, and were caught off-guard when demand started to show up in September-October.

Darfon has announced consolidated revenues of NT$2.32 billion (US$76.19 million) for October, down 3.7% sequentially. The decreased revenues were due to labor shortages.

Although the labor shortages has been solved, Darfon has lowered its revenue forecast for the fourth quarter of 2010 from increasing by 5% sequentially to staying flat.